Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1887-02-04
"ENNUI HOUSE. -
Cassel1's Maya zine.

.~ The four sisters gathered round the
open window in their pretty drawing
room, and looked at each other in
dismay. Fond as they were Of good
Old Aunt Judy, it was an invitation
which no one was anxious to accept
just then. Next week Drowsytown
would be astir with the festivities of
the annual tennis tournament, closely
followed by grand fete and garden
party, in celebration OF distinguished
and unusual birthday. For Sir Ste
phen Langham's son and heir did not
come Of age every year.
Nevertheless, this was an invitation
which must not be disregarded.
"How many has Aunt Judy lnvit-
ed?" said Francesca, in a tone OF evil
dent resentment.
"Only one," answered Barbara,
with O pleasant smile.
"Oh, then Geraldine had better go,
as she is the youngest
Pretty Ge, aldine grew very red, and
looked dlstressed-a circumstance
whish gave rise to a good deal of
good-natured banter among the girls,
until Gabrielle. who had been reading
the letter over Barbara's shoulder.
broke in with
"It is too bad OF you to tease so,
Francesca You need not bother
about it; I'll 90. don't mind"
At Gabrie!le's decided tone Barbara
looked up quickly.
Nonsense Gay! I shall go, OF
course"
Barbara Was accustomed to be an
oracle to her sisters. Ever since they
had been children she had taken the
dear mothers place. and, though
FrAulein, their old governess, was
now house keeper and chaperone to
their elder years, it was Barbara to
who must decide all questions and
disputes. But ON this subject Gabri-
ellie was determined to have her own
way. In spite OF the entreaties and
protestations OF her sisters, she re-
manned fra, bringing forward so many
good reasons why she should go to
'Ennui House" that her sisters be-
gan to believe that she was really
anxious to assist Aunt Judy's pet
curate, Mr.. Slack, in looking after
the wants of his parish.
"What about The duet, Geraldine?"
she added, as the sound of footsteps
in the hall sent that blushing little
damsel flying to the mirror to arrange
her hair. '.Here comes Mr.. Tom
Forrest to practice it,
'And Cousin Agustus," said Fran
cesca, sinking into q chair. Don't
you hear him numbering up the
stairs?"
II am afraid Mr.. Forrest will never
know that Duet" remarked Barbara.
"Well we must talk over Aunt Judy's
letter with Fraulein by and BY"
For the entrance Of Cousin Agustus
at that moment, followed, by tall,
good-looking young man, put an end
to the conversation.
CHAPTER II.
A low, large, irregular,@ picturesque
house, standing in the midst of al
old-fashioned rambling garden. The
small diamond PANIED windows smiled
out through clusters OF pink and
white roses; honeysuckle and sweet
peas clambered up the porch. Over
the red roof the high, faint, faraway
tree tops stood sleeping against
the quiet blue sky; there was not
breath OF wind to wake them, not q
breath to stir the cool shadows on the
4 o1o II,
hung in unrutfled starchness in the
airy drawing-room, whose windows,
+ opening out on the lawn, disclosed the
spacious dim interior into which the
long shadows stretched. Wide, pleas
ant, cool, well-ordered, smothered TO
the very roof in flowers, fragrant with
all the delicious odors of June, Leafy
Hall looked as if it scarcely deserved
the somewhat ungracious sobriquet OF
''Ennui House." Even the absolute
stiffness which pervaded the place
could scarcely warrant 80 harsh q title.
1t had been bright June morning.
Nothing but the monot0nous hum OF
bees broke the silence of the drowsy
afternoon hours, for tne mistress Of
the house was taking nap under the
great wide-spreading chestnut tree on
. the lawn. An imposing, portly5
parsonage was Aunt Judy, with brown
! curls waving on either side of her face,
q round, pleasant, rosy countenance,
suggestion OF eyebrows, and doubly
double-Chin. She was dressed in an
airy muslin gown, with large flowery
pattern on a white ground which, With
the cap ornamented with roses and
ySS,,k rshhono s,,rr,oOn$o1 ft,o hrr~ 80,
curls, gave her a somewhat gay APP.
petrance. Her hands were resting on
her lap, her eyes closed. and her head
noddinQ forward, while her knitting,
eluding her otherwise uusy fingers, Was
7 slowly sliding over the lilac edge. The
gay woods were already scattered in
bright profusion on the grass, for .
tiny black kitten with impish eyes was
making the most OF it's opportunities.
i It seiz ID the blue ball in It's mouth,
shook it, and carried it a little way,
when q long string of pa yellow,
I cleaning on the grass, attracted its at.
Il tention. The blue ball was Instantly
abond oned, and away it went, catch
& ing its little feet in the red and brown
II and rolling over and over in it's efforts
& 20 net free again.
That 4 little torment that kitten
was. Aunt Judy could keep nothing
tidy. II was everiastingly IN her work
basket setting everything; and only
II yesterday when the rector WAS drink
Ing tea with her, that unluekly kitten,
seized with an inquisitive fit, clam.
ssbered up the back Of the. old lady's
chair and came tunlbling down INTO
the very middle 81 her cup.
When ahrielle, her dear long lost
l1eic0'B daugh liter, came down week "a